ALLEN PARK -- Swagger is something that second-year cornerback Bill Bentley has in abundance, his confidence is evident when you hear him talk trash on the field.

The third-round pick last season from UL-Lafayette is back at Detroit Lions training camp, talking smack to wide receivers and looking to earn a spot as the team's starting nickelback.

Coach Jim Schwartz said he likes Bentley's attitude and thinks confidence is necessary to play the position.

"That's part of his persona is talking on the field. As long as it doesn't distract the other people I think it's good," Schwartz said. "You've got to have some confidence to play the corner position and he does. He's healthy, he's having fun out here -- I like to see it."

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Teammate Chris Houston agreed with Schwartz's assessment of Bentley, saying the trash talk is a positive in Bentley's game.

Houston added he's also noticed improvement in Bentley's play to go along with the bravado.

"His technique got better, he's confident, talking noise out there and that's how I like to see him," Houston said. "He's working on his ball-skills and everything, so once he gets back out there he'll understand his mistakes from last year and correct them.

"The louder he is, the better he's playing."

On top of added confidence and improved technique Bentley must show that he can stay on the field. The Miami native played in just four games last season, starting three, before being placed on the injured reserves list with a shoulder injury.

On the second day of training camp, Bentley said it's good to be back on the field and 100 percent healthy.

"It feels great to be back just to be part of the team," Bentley said. "It's a blessing to be out here again going through my second preseason training camp, it's a blessing to be here."

Bentley took some reps at the outside corner position during practice Saturday, but plans to do most of his work in the slot at the nickel. Schwartz said second-year cornerback DeQuan Menzie who the Lions signed this offseason from Kansas City, will also see some time at the nickel along with safety Glover Quin. He added that in the Lions' base 4-3 defense they will be in the nickel package about 50 percent of the time, meaning the nickelback is essentially a starter.

Bentley said he's not worried about where he lines up on the field; he wants to contribute any way he can.

"I'm just playing wherever my coaches ask me to play at," Bentley said. "Wherever to contribute to the team: Corner spot, nickel spot, special teams, long snapper anywhere I can help."

As players work to earn their place on the depth chart, one thing is clear. Veteran wide receiver Nate Burleson said he still holds the title as top trash talker on the team. But as Bentley grows on the field and his with trash talking, his role will continue to expand Burleson said.

"I got him, he's young, he repeats a lot of the same things, that's a rookie mistake for trash talking," Burleson said. "I came from Seattle ... so I know how to trash talk with the best of 'em but he's doing good, he's coming into his own.

"He's finding a lot of comfort in the slot right now, which is good, which is what we need him to do. He's going to be a big part of our defense, if he's healthy and plays like he's playing now with the pads off. We're going to have a really good defensive backfield,'' Burleson added.